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' ' l 24 - WATERlLX) CHRONICLE - Wednesday. July 2. 2014 Waterloo’s Hal mo writing a great hockey story n the surface. the story of Mike Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Crosby/Wayne Gretzky" Kessel) andllaughed. Only my Mikey..." O Halmo and his hockey came: is pretâ€" playing just a handful typeofiesponse. Not so. Halmo is justifiably proud of his first ty typical: Canadian kid grows up more games than the "My mother and my NHL goal against Florida but he smiles loving the game and dreams of playing one previous year, his point ‘ brothers. They're the thinking about how it almost came against day in [he NHL production nearly nucleus of my success." arguably the greatest goaltenderyever, New As a product of the Waterloo Wolves tripled from 14w 38. he said. Jersey's Martin Brodeur. minor system and Waterloo Jr. B Siskins. In fact. Halmo‘s skat- "My mom (Deb) is “I pulled it to my back hand to open him having that dream doesn't make llalmo ing skills and point pro- the strongest~willed per~ up and tried slipping it through the five hole unique but the way he got there does. duction improved so son I know, She‘s a fierce but it just caught the bottom ofhis blade." Consider [hese salient facts: much this past season competitor and a But the story of Mike Halmo's hockey that he was called up by tremendous athlete. career isn‘t really about scoring goals any? 0 In the minor midget draft, Halmo was the New York Islanders . including triathlons,“ wayâ€" it's about setting them. a fifih~mund selection and originally failed for 20 games and scored ’ " ‘ Halmo credits older It's not about the number of obstacles to make the Owen Sound roster. his first NHL goal. brothers Geoff (currently that get in the way of your dreams ~ it's Clearly, the not-so- with the Bank ofCanada) about having the solitary work ethic and . He went undmfted by the NHL. playing secret secret to his suc~ and Chris (Masters stu~ dogged determination required to get past his final OHL season with the Attack as an cess is his work ethic. dent in aerospace) for them. average playeri “The key is to never BRIAN ratcheting up both his And it’s not about family members when 'quit. When you want to level of competitiveness they're in the crowd â€" it's knowing you have 0 Although llalmo's physical style is be the best you can pos- TOTZKE and his desire to achieve their love and support when they can’t be. attractive [0 NHL teams. he wasn't (by his sibly be. you get there great things. Halmo's career has evolved from “home- own admission) the best skater or known for through sacrifice, put» ’ ' 7‘ ’ ' ' “They're always there town typical” to “big~time unique" but that's his goalscoring or play-making ability. ting in countless hours and working your tail . for me and tell me the things I need to hear. not even the best pan. off.” They keep me honest â€" that's important, “The best pan is ohsem‘ng close-up the Now, consider these: ' Halmo thinks his year with the Siskins as We're veryclose.” look in his eyes when he talks about what a "spar-old went a long way in developing So what was it like for mom to watch her lies ahead. It's a look that makes me think . In his first three years with me Attack hisgame youngest play his first regular-season NHL only one thing. he hadacombined total of36 goals. In his “MyyearwiththeSiakirisprovedtobea gameinperson? Mike Halmo's story is just getting final season. he scored 40_ great stepping stone for before making ‘When i first saw him on the ice, I felt started. thejump to the OHL may“ they treat like my stomach was‘going to fall out. I was - His assist numbers went from 44 (again. me very well. I received ample ice time and extremely excited but also scared for him. - - - a threeâ€"year total) to 45 in that last year, was able to take mygame to the next level.” There were also some tars. Brian Totzke blogs about sports and pup When l asked Halmo about his role “Then, on his first shift, he really culture on his new Mbsite;VLsil - in his second full season with [he AHL's models. I expected the predictable ‘Sidney bodychecks Kessel (the Maple leafs’ Phil " wwwkt'flmtguycom. Waterloo Midfire hands out its hardware a .___ . l . The Waterloo Wildfire presented the wondiethemmnshipaward . WATERL; 50â€"h ‘ :l .8 ‘ [Hays me I team's 2013-14 playuawudaon Smithy. Head Coach David Duncan earned the C 0N1 ”' a so flung New The MVP of the National Rhyme [Argue bench stair award. team was alt-hernia- Halley Moore, who was After a solid performance at the NRL alsovotedtheteom'stoppalieloaieScott WhfleflumAdetheMld- . was the team's top rookie and was also firehmwpleparirgfordiemM-lsm _ picbdadnteun'stopbrwud mmmhadludymmgm- r BrylnnaKellywunamedtheWIldfire's cneditsrocterbyaddhg'thanadacenu'e xx .. ' «‘3 top centre and Cathy Van Oosterhout was Enily Boner in a tnde with Ridunond Hill ‘i ‘1‘“ 1 -’ w“ .. . voteddntopt‘bfemeplayer. forcentreflymhapa. by! i \“ f' "‘8'. Kristin Bonolon was the team's most The Wildfire is preparing to add more ‘. g A ' '= wmm_wmwmson prospectsintbeNKLdntLoetforlulya - r i '6 Mus: w. W 3* Wmmmmdalmmmsunmm . g - “Momma-outing” mmWW.“ ’9 5. _ wmumhmmd mmohctsmmmdooomy - ' 1' ' " . a o . , . Contribute to the Waterloo Chronicle! <_ a" 51'“, “5 ‘gg‘ 1 gr Q . ; :â€"â€"-----â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"-â€"-â€"â€"â€"-â€"â€"-â€"-_â€"â€"â€"_â€"-â€"-â€"_â€"â€"â€"‘. _ {JfiHbKfi iYESIrdlmmmunw-uboamudei i 79:: Hu‘rmru'm'i a (mum a- 5 i ' O-"°"'f"d'd"°""°'m‘°°mud.”'mm'm'bum” i ' "4"”:Tfill'C13l-"lp'. K7; . . : l'dltketopayby OVlSA OMASTERCARD : h ""‘ " l“ "M", I Cardtx Exponenxi 5 Signature: W, i ' I I - ' I 1 i. .1 ‘v . - . r '7 . JIW v27. v‘JlSECiaChS. Limit {Mm \cH\Â¥,- 7, i , . . , . I Address: ,. a. I BC.) wusecmcks com i5"- Wm;‘ may 5 I‘A _ . . 7 fl .1- 5 a 9.5 70.0933 new Mme"...- tmremfio CHRONICLE ' SIS-”Fm.” hymns 279 Weber St N.. Suite 20. “M00. 0N N21 3H8